The Pyrric Beauty of Internal Pugilism

The journey to become a Wuwater Tiger Boxer was arduous and as of now still ongoing. The regimens of breathing, stretching, meditating, Lower-arm & leg conditioning and meridian vessel manipulation is almost as hard as the relentless development of the spiritual body.

Along the way the Singh Family Martial Art has become less an Eastern expression of Taiji Taolu and more a Western Expression of Pammachon Pyrric. A Pyrric is a Greek Pammachon and Pankration weapon and un-armed form that to the uninitiated is just a dance. The same has been said about Chinese Taolu of Internal Boxing Forms. Of course it is more than a dance when the mind and body and spirit are guided by a warriors intent and combative experience.

In the art of Pammachon, striking is conducted in the same manner as one uses the sword. Grappling without striking and striking without grappling is not considered Pugilistic nor practical. The ability to keep a bigger, stronger and faster person from engulfing the limbs required specific movements that were circular to evade and linear to strike was essential as there were no size or weight rquirements in ancient Olympic competition or combat. The most skilled warrior could remain within the reach of the opponent while performing these techniques.




The ancient martial masters of the West and the East are amazingly similar. Always facinated with the Ancient Western Art of Greek battle dances I practice daily to perfect defensive and defensive motions of Striking, Grappling and the Sword. Standup grappling, akin to pushhand training, was perfected in Greece Olympian Pankration in the sixth century. Timmitheseus of Delphi/Croton halted the 7th attempt of Milo of Croton to win his seventh victory with such a technique. It was called Akrocherismos or 'High-handed' grappling which used circular foot and hand motions to confound, throw or "bounce-out" an exceptionally strong grappler. The trick is to do these things while remaining in contact with the opponent. Such motions and ideas are exacting a method know to Taiji Quan practitioners as 4 ounces moving 10,000 lbs. Singh Family Internal Pugilism honors this idea and the asian masters that helped the West find its way back to our martial roots.

This video is a samplng of training conducted daily by a dilligent adept.... It is not a performance. It is part of my workout and is depictive of my imagination when my thoughts contemplate how a Ionian or Pelasgian (Black) Greek would practice his martial art. Or, a possible task of a Persian Warrior, of the Kshatrya caste, adding the movements of a Macedonian Warrior's Pammachon Pyrric to his Vajramukti Internal Boxing regimen.

I feel like I am rediscovering a practice of discovery that the Western and Eastern adepts learned through a similar process of assimilation, compehension, application, synthesis, evaluation, dilligence and relentless practice. When the task is completed and the pyrric or dance can be applied in competition or combat against an uninitiated opponent we appear to be flowwing through, around and over our quarry. It is the contemplation of Metta or compassion meditation that supplies the psychic power of this dance. The strength, speed and suppleness comes from jingluo and microcosmic orbit meditations that merge the mental, physical and emotional bodies into one. Greek Pyrric and Chinese Taiji are gifts that any Western Martial Artist can aquire because it is a part of our culture in the 21st Century. I hope this video inspires a search for this gift among my peers.... Enjoy

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Wu style taiji quan
• taiji quan
• pankration
• martial arts

[jmacatx]

This awesome, thanks! I discovered you through Doc Stier, and I'm so glad I did!

I'm fascinated by this Greek influence - where can I learn more about the Greek roots of this style?? I studied Classical Greek (Ionian and Koine) and had a concentration on Ancient Philosophy as part of my BA in Phil, so I love the idea of incorporating or integrating elements of that with the Chinese systems (Shen Men Tao, obviously). Thanks!

[ANGELSGYMSINGH]

@jmacatx Hello and thanks for your comments, viewing and compliments. Doc Stier is often in my Metta meditation and his contribution to my understanding of a Westerner's traditional understanding of Eastern pugilism has been valuable to me. If you wish a more complete reference of how one can integrate west and east methods through historical and scientific process please contact me at my email address.. titussung@aol.com....

[DanBowenTV]

That was amazing and beautiful

[ANGELSGYMSINGH]

@DanBowenTV Dan... long time no hear.... Your compliment was unexpected and very humbling and welcome. In fact I did not even think the video very impressive as it is a sampling of me still learning the full potential of the Wu Fast Form. Moreover, it is just what I do everyday, mistakes and all. After your comment I looked at the vid again. It goes well with the music and as such lends a grace and subtle power to my movements. An integration of East and West martial culture is well shown. Tx

[ANGELSGYMSINGH]

Hey Snakeman... There is the Journal of Western Martial Arts that you can study online. Punch in Pammachon or Pankration and you can get to Amazon.com you can get some info. If you punch in Milo and Timmithiseus you can get info on the Greek version of Pushhands... MMA and Close quarters Combat being the modern versions of these Western ancient MA's will evolve into Internal pugilism with time as we integrate our own "flavor" into Asian Martial Arts. Hope to hear from ya soon.... G

[jmacatx]

@ANGELSGYMSINGH - oops, shoulda read these comments before I posted my question. I'll check these out!

[Laurencechogen]

Beautiful, Master Singh! I remember our conversation on several of the western styles. Are there any books you can recommend for learning about them before I come up to train with you? I will be emailing you tomorrow. School has just had me going crazy these past few weeks :-)